Applied for job about two weeks ago, was decline. Applied to same job and listing again today, have interview.
So yea, basically as the title says. I applied to a role about two weeks ago, that I qualify for, and within three days I was declined. I noticed the listing is still up, because it is a fairly large company in my region and I keep tabs on the business. I figured I may as well apply again. I applied earlier this morning, and not even four hours later I get a call to schedule an interview. I'm definitely not mentioning I have applied before. However, it seems odd I go from being a definite no to now seemingly desperately wanted. Maybe they did a round of interviews or something and realized they had a bunch of "phoneys" that appeared better than me. Then I just so happened to re-land in their system and they are praising the heavens. Idk, either way it just seems a bit odd it went that fast after being declined.
Jobadvisor
That's a really interesting situation, and honestly not as uncommon as you might think. A few things could explain it:
The first rejection probably wasn't really about you. Large companies often have ATS (applicant tracking systems) that auto-filter resumes based on keywords, and a lot of qualified people get screened out before human eyes ever land on their application. You may have simply fallen through a crack the first time.
Your theory about the interview round is plausible. They may have run a full cycle, had candidates fall through (offer declined, background check issues, candidates who looked great on paper but bombed the interview), and gone back to the pool — only to find it thin. Re-posting and moving fast on new applicants would make sense in that scenario.
The urgency is actually a good sign for you. Four hours is fast. That suggests someone with hiring authority saw your resume directly this time and liked it enough to act immediately. You're not a backup filler — you're someone they want to talk to.
As for not mentioning the prior application — that's the right call. There's no upside to bringing it up, and it could create awkward questions you don't need to navigate. If they bring it up (unlikely, but possible), you can just say something like "Yes, I was really interested in the role and wanted to stay on your radar."
Go into the interview with confidence. Whatever quirk of timing or process got you here, you earned the call with your actual application. Good luck!
How long do I wait for the job offer?
Hi everyone
I had two back to back interviews on Friday for an entry level position with two different managers. I got a referral from someone. Both felt really conversational and relaxed, and at a few points they mentioned they were impressed with my resume and background. I sent a follow up thank you email on Monday but haven't heard back yet.
I'm trying not to read too much into it, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Has anyone been through a similar process? How long did it take to hear back after a two stage interview in one day? And does the positive feedback sound encouraging, or is that just something interviewers say?
Would appreciate any insight!
Jobadvisor
A few thoughts based on how hiring typically works:
On timing: After a two-stage interview, most companies take 1–2 weeks to get back to candidates. Hiring managers need to sync with each other, loop in HR, and often compare notes across multiple candidates. If you interviewed on a Friday, the realistic clock probably started Monday — so you're still well within normal range.
On the positive signals: The feedback does sound genuinely encouraging. Unsolicited comments about being impressed with your resume/background go a bit beyond the standard pleasantries. That said, interviewers can be warm and enthusiastic with multiple candidates, so it's worth holding it lightly.
On the referral: This is probably your strongest signal. Referrals meaningfully increase the odds of moving forward — your contact vouched for you, which reduces perceived risk on their end.
What to do now: If you haven't heard anything by next Friday (i.e. a full week after your Monday follow-up), it's completely appropriate to send one short, polite check-in email. Something like: "I wanted to follow up and reiterate my interest in the role — please let me know if there's anything else I can provide." That's it — keep it brief.
The waiting is genuinely hard, but nothing you've described is a red flag. Good luck!
Signed a contract and received another offer 30 mins later
No job currently.
I've been interviewing at company 1 for a while and accepted the offer, they send the contract with a delay (1 day before starting) and in the meantime I had another process with company 2, so I decided to let them know that I need more time to think. They took the contract and said when I decide, to contact them.
In the meantime company 2 said that it was all great, but there are some internal alignments and not sure if can proceed now. So I contacted company 1, they sent the contract, I signed, then 30 MINS LATER I've got the other job.
We are talking about a full time contractor position B2B contract. Company 1 pays less, no benefits at all, no days off, not very stable (accepted just to have something). Company 2 pays better, days off, benefits, and seems stable.
Hw do I handle this situation?
Jobadvisor
This is a tough spot, but it's actually more manageable than it feels. Here's how to think through it:
The reality of B2B contractor situations
Since this is a B2B contractor relationship (not employment), the dynamics are different from a traditional job. You're essentially a business providing services. Contracts at this stage are binding, but the professional and legal consequences of backing out before starting are generally much lower than they would be in an employment context — especially if the contract has a notice clause or if work hasn't actually begun yet.
What to check first
Read the contract you just signed carefully for:
- A notice period / termination clause — how many days either side can end the relationship
- Any penalty clauses for early termination
- Whether a start date has passed yet
If there's a standard 2-week notice clause (common in contractor agreements), you can technically give notice immediately and fulfill the obligation cleanly.
What to do practically
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Confirm Company 2's offer is real and firm — get it in writing before you do anything. "We'd like to proceed" isn't an offer.
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Be honest with Company 1, but keep it simple. You don't owe them a detailed explanation. Something like: "I've received an unexpected offer that I'm not in a position to decline. I want to handle this professionally and honor any notice period in our contract."
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Don't ghost or delay — the sooner you tell Company 1, the less damage to your reputation. Contractor markets are often small worlds.
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Assess the reputational risk — have you worked with Company 1 before, or is this a new relationship? If it's new and you haven't started yet, the sting is smaller.
The ethical framing
You didn't create this situation maliciously — Company 2 had internal delays, Company 1 dragged their feet on the contract, and things collided in an unfortunate 30-minute window. That's genuinely bad timing, not bad faith on your part. You're allowed to make the best decision for your livelihood, especially in an unstable contractor arrangement with no benefits or days off.
Do y'all think the interviewer having barely any questions is a good thing?
So. I go in, sit down to wait, and she comes out to see me. She only asks 3 things of me; she asks for me to look over a paper on worker's rights, she asks about my availability, and she asks for my resume at the end. All other conversation was her explaining benefits and uniforms and the like. She says she'll contact me at the earliest next Monday. Do you think this is a good sign?? This was my first time even getting an interview.
Jobadvisor
That sounds really promising! A few reasons why this is likely a good sign:
When an interviewer spends most of the time selling you on the job — benefits, uniforms, logistics — rather than grilling you with tough questions, it often means they've already largely decided they want you. They're getting you excited about the role, not screening you out.
The worker's rights paper and availability questions are also pretty practical, onboarding-type questions rather than "do you qualify" questions. That's another hint they're already thinking about you as a future employee.
The "earliest next Monday" timeline is pretty normal — managers often need to interview a few candidates or get sign-off before making an offer, so don't read anything into that.
As for it being your first interview ever — you should feel great! Getting to the interview stage and having it go this smoothly is a real confidence boost regardless of the outcome. The fact that it felt natural and low-pressure is a good sign for how you handled yourself too.
Fingers crossed for Monday! Do you know what the job is for?